Lawrence man charged with rape in April 2010 incident

Douglas County prosecutors have charged a 21-year-old Lawrence man with rape in connection with an April 2010 incident reported in south-central Lawrence.

According to court records, prosecutors accuse the defendant of having sex with a woman who was incapable of giving consent. The charges did not specify the scenario, but prosecutors allege the woman either was under the effect of alcohol or drugs, had a mental deficiency or was unconscious.

Lawrence police have said the victim alleged the incident occurred April 25. The suspect was arrested Monday evening on a warrant for the rape charge and for an alleged probation violation in a 2009 case when he pleaded no contest to obstruction and driving on a suspended license, according to court records.

District Judge Peggy Kittel set the man’s bond Tuesday morning in the rape case at $10,000 cash or surety and scheduled a hearing for 9:30 a.m. next Tuesday.

Jail records listed the man’s hometown as Topeka, but documents about the charges identify the suspect as a Lawrence man.

The Journal-World generally does not identify suspects in sex crime cases unless they are convicted.

I didn't know that Charles Branson/LPD get to decide which posts are removed. Thanks for letting us know that we can have absolutely no opinion that is contrary to them or our posts will be immediately removed.

Allegedly Lawrence is a liberal college town that would allow it's citizens to converse on a public website about an important albeit controversial issue. Yes a newspaper is a private company but one would think they would hold true to the First Amendment not censorship. While the views expressed in these censored comments may be unpopular a Free Society demands that they not be burned.

I think some people need to read up on both the terms of use on this website and the Constitution. Your Constitutionally-protected right to free speech does not extend to the comments section of a newspaper website.